6 things to do in Topsail Island, Surf City during the winter

When Mother Nature brings chilly weather to Topsail Island in the winter, you won't see a lot of people in swimwear relaxing in beach chairs, watching their children build sandcastles.

But there's still a lot of fun when it's not tourist season.

"People like to go looking for shells and shark teeth on the beach," said Tammy Proctor, tourism director for Pender County. "That's very popular during the off-season. We laugh because we think it's cold, but if you're in the northeast right now, waiting for a snowstorm, we look like heaven."

The tourism department is receiving a lot of inquiries from people who haven't been to Topsail during the spring and summer. Proctor said they sent out 600 visitor guides and is planning to send out more when the next batch is printed.

"We're just having a hard time keeping up because the demand has been so great," Proctor said. "That's a good problem to have. We're certainly not complaining about that."

Proctor is expecting to see Topsail Island busy in March, but in the meantime, there's plenty of things to do.

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A Saturday afternoon with local history

Located in Topsail Beach, the Missiles and More Museum allows visitors to learn about the history of Topsail Island and its association with military history through exhibits such as Operation Bumblebee. It was the U.S. Navy's secret guided missile testing program on the island operated from 1946-1948.

Some of the others include the exhibits for WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots), pirates and Camp Davis, an antiaircraft training center during World War II.

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Missiles and More Museum is located at the Historical Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd., Topsail Beach. It's open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, with the last entry set for 2:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.missilesandmoremuseum.org.

Help sea turtles find their way home

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (KBSTRRC), a nonprofit organization in Surf City, is looking for volunteers. One of the missions is to rescue, rehab and release sick and injured sea turtles.

Kathy Zagzebski, KBSTRRC executive director, said the organization is looking for people to serve as tour guides when the center reopens in March. There are a few openings for animal care, but those positions are filling quickly.

Zagzebski is asking the public to be friends of sea turtles by calling the center at 910-329-0222 if they come across a stranded sea turtle.

"Our volunteers will go out and rescue the turtle and bring it back to our hospital," Zagzebski said. "This is what's cold-stunned season, and basically the water is too cold for turtles right now. Most of them have swam south for the winter, but some of them still kind of linger and get hypothermic."

There are close to 30 turtles resting at the hospital.

"We'll see what the rest of the winter brings," Zagzebski said. "We welcome people back we open up in March."

For more information about volunteer opportunities, visit www.seaturtlehospital.org

From the mountains to Topsail

A segment of North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) goes through Topsail Island and provides hiking and exercise opportunities. The entire 1,175 mile-trail stretches from the Great Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks.

The 15th 90-mile segment of MST from the Holly Shelter Game Land to Stella passes through Surf City and 8 miles of beach on Topsail Island. In addition for walkers to learn about local history, Proctor said winter season is an enjoyable time for a lot of walkers.

"People like hiking that segment this time of year because you don't have a lot of heat," Proctor said.

For more information, visit https://mountainstoseatrail.org/segment/15.

Visit the 'Creek'

With the Wilmington-area serving as a filming location for movies and TV shows, tourism leaders are encouraging visitors to check out some of the sites. One of them is Dawson's Creek, which was filmed at the south end of Topsail Beach.

According to the Pender tourism department, producers donated money to KBSTRRC.

Officials are also encouraging other to visit locations in Burgaw where productions such as Date with an Angel, Freedom Song, and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

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Get creative

A variety of art events and classes are available throughout the season.

One of them is a sunrise painting class by Art of Eden. It will be hosted by A Taste of Sunrise Coffee House from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at 14669 U.S. 17 in Hampstead.

For the acrylics on canvas project, al materials will be provided. For more information about registration and ticket prices, visit www.artofeden.net

Board and Brush of Surf City is also offerings lessons for visitors to make wood and textile decor projects. During the year, the studio is hosting workshops, family nights, parties, and camps for kids.

The next gathering, mini sign workshop, is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23. For more information visit https://boardandbrush.com/surfcity

Additional listings of art groups are available at www.visitpender.com.

Live like a local

When people visit the area, she said people enjoy the local flavor and want to know what it's like to be a resident.

"When people come down, even if it's for a week or weekend, they want to live like a local," Proctor said. "We encourage people to checkout the Facebook page and see what's going on locally. Rather it's an art studio having an opening or anything like that. People do enjoy the local flavor."

Proctor said there's many restaurants and places to shop to get that feeling on Topsail Island and other places in Pender County, which includes sites such as the historic Moores Creek National Battlefield in Currie, the site of first victory for Revolutionary War patriots in the state. Many listings are available at www.visitpender.com and www.topsailchamber.org.

Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 6 things to do in Topsail Island, eastern Pender during the winter